U.S. patent application number 11/313165 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-11 for kinematic images formed by orienting alignable flakes.
This patent application is currently assigned to JDS Uniphase Corporation. Invention is credited to Paul G. Coombs, Jay M. Holman, Charles T. Markantes, Vladimir P. Raksha, Neil Teitelbaum.
Application Number | 20060097515 11/313165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36602315 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060097515 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Raksha; Vladimir P. ; et
al. |
May 11, 2006 |
Kinematic images formed by orienting alignable flakes
Abstract
An image is disclosed comprised of flakes in a carrier, such as
an ink vehicle or a paint that can be aligned in a magnetic field.
The flakes are aligned so as to produce one or more kinematic
features such as a rolling bar that appears to move as the image is
tilted. These images can provide security features on high-value
documents, such as bank notes.
Inventors: |
Raksha; Vladimir P.; (Santa
Rosa, CA) ; Coombs; Paul G.; (Santa Rosa, CA)
; Markantes; Charles T.; (Santa Rosa, CA) ;
Holman; Jay M.; (Santa Rosa, CA) ; Teitelbaum;
Neil; (Ottawa, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALLEN, DYER, DOPPELT, MILBRATH & GILCHRIST P.A.
1401 CITRUS CENTER 255 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE
P.O. BOX 3791
ORLANDO
FL
32802-3791
US
|
Assignee: |
JDS Uniphase Corporation
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
36602315 |
Appl. No.: |
11/313165 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11022106 |
Dec 22, 2004 |
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11313165 |
Dec 20, 2005 |
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10386894 |
Mar 11, 2003 |
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11022106 |
Dec 22, 2004 |
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60410546 |
Sep 13, 2002 |
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60410547 |
Sep 13, 2002 |
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60396210 |
Jul 15, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
283/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 283/901 20130101;
Y10S 428/916 20130101; B44F 1/10 20130101; B05D 5/061 20130101;
B42D 25/29 20141001; B42D 25/369 20141001; Y10T 428/25 20150115;
Y10S 283/902 20130101; Y10T 428/2982 20150115; B42D 25/00 20141001;
Y10S 428/90 20130101; B44F 7/00 20130101; B05D 3/207 20130101; Y10T
428/24802 20150115; B41M 3/148 20130101; Y10T 428/2991 20150115;
B42D 2033/18 20130101; B05D 7/546 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
283/091 |
International
Class: |
B42D 15/00 20060101
B42D015/00 |
Claims
1. An image printed on a substrate comprising: a non-rectangular
closed region coated with aligned pigment flakes, wherein said
flakes are aligned so as to produce a kinematic object therewithin,
wherein the kinematic object appears to move across the closed
region as the image is tilted or the position of the light source
upon the image is varied, and wherein the area of the kinematic
object changes as it appears to move across the region, or wherein
the kinematic object appears to move horizontally and vertically
simultaneously as the kinematic object appears to move.
2. An image as defined in claim 1, wherein the kinematic object is
appears lighter as it appears to move, than surrounding flakes, and
wherein the closed region has a curved side.
3. An image as defined in claim 1, wherein the kinematic object
appears darker than surrounding flakes as it appears to move.
4. An image as defined in claim 1, wherein the kinematic object is
a first rolling bar.
5. An image as defined in claim 4, including a second rolling
bar.
6. An image as defined in claim 5, wherein the first and second
rolling bars appear to move in different directions as the image is
tilted or when viewed from a different direction.
7. An image as defined in claim 1, wherein the kinematic object is
a rolling bar or rolling hemisphere and wherein the object changes
in size as it appears to move when the image is tilted.
8. An image as defined in claim 1, wherein the image has a second
closed region, and wherein the second closed region includes a
coating having aligned pigment flakes.
9. An image as defined in claim 1, wherein the non-rectangular
closed region represents an object capable of casting a shadow, and
wherein the kinematic object within the object provides shading and
a perception of depth and movement which increases recognition of
the object.
10. An image as defined in claim 9, wherein the closed region has
one or more curved lines the kinematic object follows the one or
more curved lines as it appears to move.
11. An image printed on a substrate as defined in claim 1, wherein
the aligned pigment flakes for producing the kinematic object are
oriented in an arching configuration within the non-rectangular
closed region, and wherein a second kinematic object is produced
within the image, wherein flakes within the second kinematic object
are oppositely arching.
12. An image printed on a substrate comprising: a non-rectangular
closed region coated with aligned pigment flakes, wherein said
flakes are aligned so as to produce a kinematic object therewithin,
wherein the kinematic object appears to move across the closed
region as the image is tilted or the position of the light source
upon the image is varied, and wherein the area of the kinematic
object changes in size as the object appears to move across the
region, or wherein the object appears to move horizontally and
vertically simultaneously as the kinematic object appears to
move.
13. An image printed on a substrate, the image comprising: a
plurality of magnetic pigment flakes in a carrier wherein a portion
of the plurality of magnetic flakes are aligned in an arching
pattern relative to a surface of the substrate so as to create a
contrasting bar across the image appearing between a first adjacent
field and a second adjacent field, the contrasting bar appearing to
move relative to the first adjacent field and the second adjacent
field as the image is tilted, wherein a plurality of magnetic
flakes are aligned in a pattern so as to create a double
contrasting bar across the image as the image is tilted.
14. An image printed on a substrate comprising: A first region
coated with aligned pigment flakes, wherein said flakes are aligned
so as to produce a first kinematic object therewithin, and a second
region coated with aligned pigment flakes, wherein said flakes are
aligned so as to produce a second kinematic object therewithin,
wherein the first and second kinematic objects appear to move in
different directions simultaneously as image is tilted.
15. An image as defined in claim 14, wherein the first and second
kinematic objects are rolling bars, and wherein the rolling bars
move in opposite directions as the image is tilted.
16. A kinematical image of a three-dimensional object capable of
casting a shadow, comprising a plurality of pigment flakes filling
a region to form at least a portion of the image, wherein pigment
flakes within the region are aligned so as to form a rolling bar,
and wherein the rolling bar provides shading and depth to the image
of the three dimensional object, wherein the shading appears to
move as light source upon the image is varied.
17. A perspective image of an object, wherein at least one region
of the perspective image has alignable pigment flakes within a
carrier coated upon a substrate formed into a rolling bar or
rolling hemisphere, for providing shading on the object.
18. A perspective image of an object as defined in claim 17,
wherein one portion of the image has a rolling hemisphere, and
another portion of the image has a rolling bar.
19. A method of forming an image having a kinematic hemisphere or
inverted hemisphere comprising the steps of providing a dome-shaped
or inverted dome-shaped magnetic field; providing a substrate with
a coating of magnetically alignable pigment flakes; disposing the
coated substrate within the dome-shaped or inverted dome-shaped
magnetic field; relatively rotating the coated substrate and the
dome-shaped or inverted dome-shaped magnetic field; and allowing
the coating to cure.
20. A method of forming an image, comprising the steps of: coating
a substrate with coating of pigment flakes, and before the coating
cures, exposing the coating to varying magnetic field, by moving
the substrate within a magnetic field, or by varying a magnetic
field permeating the coating.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part and claims
priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/022,106, now
published application 2005-0106367, filed Dec. 22, 2004, which
claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/386,894
now published application 2004/0051297 filed Mar. 11, 2003, which
claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/410,546 filed Sep. 13, 2002, by Vladimir P. Raksha; from U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/410,547 filed Sep. 13,
2002 by Vladimir P. Raksha, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes,
Dishuan Chu, and Jay M. Holman; and from U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/396,210 filed Jul. 15, 2002 by Vladimir P.
Raksha, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Dishuan Chu, and Jay
M. Holman, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in
their entirety for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to optically variable
pigments, films, inks, paints, devices, and images, and more
particularly to images with aligned or oriented pigment flakes, for
example, during a painting or printing process, to obtain an
illusive optical effect. This invention is particularly applicable
to aligning magnetically alignable pigment flakes and is also
applicable to aligning non-magnetic dielectric or semiconductor
flakes in an electric field.
[0003] Optically variable devices are used in a wide variety of
applications, both decorative and utilitarian. Optically variable
devices can be made in variety of ways to achieve a variety of
effects. Examples of optically variable devices include the
holograms imprinted on credit cards and authentic software
documentation, color-shifting images printed on banknotes, and
enhancing the surface appearance of items such as motorcycle
helmets and wheel covers.
[0004] Optically variable devices can be made as film or foil that
is pressed, stamped, glued, or otherwise attached to an object, and
can also be made using optically variable pigments. One type of
optically variable pigment is commonly called a color-shifting
pigment because the apparent color of images appropriately printed
with such pigments changes as the angle of view and/or illumination
is tilted. A common example is the "20" printed with color-shifting
pigment in the lower right-hand corner of a U.S. twenty-dollar
bill, which serves as an anti-counterfeiting device.
[0005] Some anti-counterfeiting devices are covert, while others
are intended to be noticed. This invention relates to overt
features, intended to be noticed, however flakes having covert
features therein, such as indicia can be used. Furthermore flakes
with gratings and holographic features can be used. Unfortunately,
some optically variable devices that are intended to be noticed are
not widely known because the optically variable aspect of the
device is not sufficiently dramatic. For example, the color shift
of an image printed with color-shifting pigment might not be
noticed under uniform fluorescent ceiling lights, but more
noticeable in direct sunlight or under single-point illumination.
This can make it easier for a counterfeiter to pass counterfeit
notes without the optically variable feature because the recipient
might not be aware of the optically variable feature, or because
the counterfeit note might look substantially similar to the
authentic note under certain conditions.
[0006] Optically variable devices can also be made with magnetic
pigments that are aligned with a magnetic field after applying the
pigment (typically in a carrier such as an ink vehicle or a paint
vehicle) to a surface. However, painting with magnetic pigments has
been used mostly for decorative purposes. For example, use of
magnetic pigments has been described to produce painted cover
wheels having a decorative feature that appears as a
three-dimensional shape. A pattern was formed on the painted
product by applying a magnetic field to the product while the paint
medium still was in a liquid state. The paint medium had dispersed
magnetic non-spherical particles that aligned along the magnetic
field lines. The field had two regions. The first region contained
lines of a magnetic force that were oriented parallel to the
surface and arranged in a shape of a desired pattern. The second
region contained lines that were non-parallel to the surface of the
painted product and arranged around the pattern. To form the
pattern, permanent magnets or electromagnets with the shape
corresponding to the shape of desired pattern were located
underneath the painted product to orient in the magnetic field
non-spherical magnetic particles dispersed in the paint while the
paint was still wet. When the paint dried, the pattern was visible
on the surface of the painted product as the light rays incident on
the paint layer were influenced differently by the oriented
magnetic particles.
[0007] Similarly, a process for producing of a pattern of flaked
magnetic particles in fluoropolymer matrix has been described.
After coating a product with a composition in liquid form, a magnet
with desirable shape was placed on the underside of the substrate.
Magnetic flakes dispersed in a liquid organic medium orient
themselves parallel to the magnetic field lines, tilting from the
original planar orientation. This tilt varied from perpendicular to
the surface of a substrate to the original orientation, which
included flakes essentially parallel to the surface of the product.
The planar oriented flakes reflected incident light back to the
viewer, while the reoriented flakes did not, providing the
appearance of a three dimensional pattern in the coating.
[0008] It is desirable to create more noticeable optically variable
security features on financial documents and other products and to
provide features that are difficult for counterfeiters to copy.
[0009] It is also desirable to create features which add to the
realism of printed images made with inks and paints having
alignable flakes therein, especially printed images of objects and
more particularly recognizable three dimensional objects.
[0010] Heretofore, in patent application PCT/US2003/020665 the
inventor of the present application has described embodiments of an
invention known as the "rolling-bar" and the "flip-flop" which
provide kinematical features, that is features which provide the
optical illusion of movement, to images comprised of magnetically
alignable pigment flakes wherein the flakes are aligned in a
particular manner. Although this is heralded as a significant
advance in the field of alignment of pigment flakes, and more
generally related to anti-counterfeiting coatings, the inventors
have discovered new and exciting applications of the rolling-bar
and other rolling objects such as a rolling hemisphere which yields
realistic 3-D like images formed of alignable pigment flakes, not
realized before. The rolling hemisphere appears to move all
directions on an x-y plane in dependence upon an angle at which the
image is tilted or the angle at which the light source upon the
image varied.
[0011] Although the rolling bar described in the aforementioned PCT
patent application provides the illusion of a moving bar across a
rectangular image, this invention has limitations. It is a single
kinematic feature which can be observed. It is also somewhat
difficult to copy. But essentially it provides the observer with
the experience of seeing a rolling bar of uniform size and
intensity which is unvarying as it appears to move along the
substrate upon the rectangular image it is apart of.
[0012] In this invention, the inventors have since discovered that
providing a rolling bar used as a fill within an outline of a
curved recognizable object, particularly a smooth curved
recognizable object such as a bell, a shield, container, or a
soccer ball provides striking effects that reach beyond a rolling
bar moving back and forth on a rectangular sheet. The bar while
providing realistic dynamic shading to an image of an object not
only appears to move across the image but also appears to grow and
shrink or expand and contract with this movement within the closed
region in which it is contained. In some instances where the size
or area of the bar doesn't vary, for example wherein it is used a
as a partial fill within an image between two conforming curved
lines that move together with a space between, filled by the bar,
the bar appears to move across the image while simultaneously
moving up and down. Thus, this invention provides a highly desired
optical effect by using the rolling bar inside a non rectangular
outlined closed shape of an object, wherein the area of the rolling
bar changes as the bar moves across the image, and, or wherein the
bar appears to move horizontally and vertically simultaneously as
the image is tilted or the light source upon the image is varied.
Additionally, if the bar is designed to be of a suitable size and
radius of curvature, it can be used as a dynamic, moving, shrinking
or expanding shading element in the image, providing exceptional
realism. It has also been found, that the rolling bar appears to
have a most profound effect when it appears to mimic moving shading
on an image of a real object that is capable or producing a shadow
when light is incident upon it. In these important applications, it
is preferred that the radius of curvature of the flakes forming the
rolling bar be within a range of values wherein the image of the
real-object it is applied to, appears to be correctly curved so as
to appear realistic. It is an object of this invention, to provide
an optically illusive image having kinematical features that depend
upon tilting the image or varying the location of the light source
upon the image.
[0013] The term rectangular used in this specification is defined
to mean a quadrilateral with four right angles. Thus a
non-rectangular object or image does not have 4 sides and four
right angles.
[0014] This invention refers to forming images of objects wherein
the images of the object include special effects such as rolling
bar effects that provide the illusion of moving shadows as the
image of object is tilted or the light source upon the image is
varied. The definition of object in this context is a tangible and
visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow.
[0015] The term rolling bar shall not be limited to a straight bar
as it may be a curved bar, depending upon the shape of the applied
field.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention a
kinematical image particularly useful as a security feature or a
decorative feature is provided comprising a non rectangular closed
region of an object having a rolling bar therewithin, wherein the
rolling bar appears to move across the image as the image is tilted
or the position of the light source upon the image is varied, and
wherein the area of the rolling bar changes as the bar moves across
the image, or wherein the bar appears to move horizontally and
vertically simultaneously as the rolling bar appears to move.
[0017] In accordance with an embodiment of this invention a
kinematical image of a three-dimensional object capable of casting
a shadow, is provided particularly useful as a security feature or
a decorative feature comprising a plurality of pigment flakes
filling a region wherein the flakes are aligned so as to form a
rolling bar, and wherein the rolling bar provides shading and depth
to the image of the three dimensional object, wherein the shading
appears to move as light source upon the image is varied.
[0018] In accordance with the invention, a perspective image is
provided, wherein at least one region of the perspective image has
flakes formed into a rolling bar, for providing shading on the
perspective image.
[0019] In accordance with the invention a kinematical image is
provided, comprising an image printed on a substrate, comprised of
plurality of pigment flakes, wherein the flakes are in an first
arching pattern to form a first contrasting bar across at least a
portion of the image, and wherein the flakes are in a second
arching pattern to form a second contrasting bar across at least a
different portion of the image, and wherein the first and second
contrasting bars appear to move in different directions
simultaneously, as the image is tilted relative to a viewing
angle.
[0020] In accordance with the invention, a kinematical image of an
object is provided. The image comprises a plurality of field
aligned pigment flakes, wherein the object has an recognizable
three dimensional varying shape in three dimensional space and
wherein the a rolling bar is disposed within an outline of
representation of the object, so as to provide a varying shading
effect as the image is tilted relative to viewing angle, and
wherein the area of the rolling bar varies as the image tilted
relative to viewing angle.
[0021] In accordance with the invention, an image is provided,
wherein a first rolling bar comprising aligned pigment flakes
occupies a first region of the image, wherein the first region has
non-rectangular curved region defining a contour thereof, and
wherein a second rolling bar is disposed in a second region of the
image, and wherein the two rolling bars provide the viewer with an
illusion of relative movement between the first and second regions
as the image is tilted in one direction.
[0022] In accordance with the invention, there is provided, an
image printed on a substrate comprising: a non-rectangular closed
region coated with aligned pigment flakes, wherein said flakes are
aligned so as to produce a kinematic object such as a bar or a
hemisphere therewithin, wherein the kinematic object appears to
move across the closed region as the image is tilted or the
position of the light source upon the image is varied, and wherein
the area of the kinematic object changes as the object appears to
move across the region, or wherein the object appears to move
horizontally and vertically simultaneously as the kinematic object
appears to move.
[0023] In accordance with the invention, an image is provided
having two rolling bars within the image, and wherein the rolling
bars appear to move in different directions as the image is titled
in one direction.
[0024] In accordance with the invention, an image is provided
having two rolling bars within the image, and wherein the rolling
bars appear to move toward or away from each other as the image is
titled in one direction.
[0025] In particular embodiments of the invention, the radius of
curvature of the rolling bar is at least one quarter and preferably
larger than one half the radius of curvature of one of the curves
within the outline of the image.
[0026] In other embodiments of the invention, the radius of
curvature of the rolling bar is at least as large as the radius of
curvature of one of the curves within the outline of the image.
[0027] In another embodiment the radius of curvature is sufficient
to span the entire image of the three dimensional real object.
[0028] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention
there is provided an image printed on a substrate comprising: A
first region coated with aligned pigment flakes, wherein said
flakes are aligned so as to produce a first kinematic object
therewithin, and a second region coated with aligned pigment
flakes, wherein said flakes are aligned so as to produce a second
kinematic object therewithin, wherein the first and second
kinematic objects appear to move in different directions
simultaneously as image is tilted.
[0029] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, an image is
formed having a first region coated with pigment flakes, wherein
the flakes are aligned so as to form an observable moving
hemisphere, providing the appearance of a rolling ball, as the
image is tilted or the light source is varied.
[0030] In an embodiment of this invention an image is formed
comprising the steps of providing a dome-shaped or inverted
dome-shaped magnetic field;
[0031] providing a substrate with a coating of magnetically
alignable pigment flakes;
[0032] disposing the coating within the dome-shaped or inverted
dome-shaped magnetic field;
[0033] relatively rotating the substrate and the dome-shaped or
inverted dome-shaped magnetic field; and
[0034] allowing the coating to cure.
[0035] The image in accordance with this invention is difficult to
counterfeit, visually appealing, easily identifiable and is
particularly useful as a security feature or a decorative
feature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described
in accordance with the figures. Since the figures shown in this
application represent the images in accordance with this invention,
made with magnetic flakes, these effects cannot be provided in this
document which attempts to describe and illustrate these
kinematical and 3-D features.
[0037] FIG. 1A is a simplified plan view of the rolling bar image
at a first selected viewing angle.
[0038] FIG. 1B is a simplified plan view of the rolling bar image
at a second selected viewing angle.
[0039] FIG. 2A is a simplified cross section of a printed image
that will be referred to as a "rolling bar" for purposes of
discussion, according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0040] FIG. 3A is a simplified cross section of another embodiment
of the invention for forming a semi-circular orientation of flakes
in paint or ink for a rolling bar type image.
[0041] FIG. 3B is a simplified perspective view of apparatus in
accordance with FIG. 7A.
[0042] FIG. 4A is a plan view of an image comprised of non-aligned
magnetic pigment flakes cured on a substrate.
[0043] FIG. 4B is a plan view of the flakes and substrate shown in
FIG. 4A after the flakes have been aligned and permanently fixed by
curing the pigment so as to orient them into a rolling bar similar
to FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0044] FIG. 5A is a plan view of an image having a curved upper
contour comprised of non-aligned magnetic pigment flakes.
[0045] FIG. 5B is a plan view of the image similar to FIG. 5A with
the flakes aligned into a large rolling bar, with a substantially
large radius of curvature.
[0046] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of an image of a sphere
wherein an outline of a circle has a rolling bar spanning its
diameter providing the illusion of a sphere.
[0047] FIG. 7 is a shape similar to FIG. 5B wherein both upper and
lower surfaces are curved.
[0048] FIG. 8A is an image in perspective view of container, having
a rolling bar applied to an outer front wall, and another rolling
bar on the inner back wall, wherein the two rolling bars move in
opposite directions simultaneously as the image is tilted in the
direction of one of the arrows.
[0049] FIG. 8B, shown on a separate sheet from FIG. 8A, is a
cross-sectional view of two rolling bars shown in FIG. 8C.
[0050] FIG. 8C is a plan view of a more simple arrangement of two
rolling bars which move oppositely, simultaneously, as the image is
tilted.
[0051] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an image of a container
similar to the one shown in FIG. 8A wherein rolling bars are shown
on adjacent outside inside faces, wherein the rolling bars move
oppositely and wherein the rolling bar on the inner face changes
area and shape as it is perceived to move upon tilting.
[0052] FIG. 10 is an image of a sphere having two rolling elongate
shapes shown which provide a 3-D realistic quality to the image as
the image it tilted.
[0053] FIG. 11 is an image of a cylinder having rolling bar on an
outer front-facing surface of the cylinder.
[0054] FIG. 12 is an image of a shield wherein the rolling bar
provides a kinematic effect and wherein the bar provides shading
and depth adding realism to the image not attainable in a
photograph or painting.
[0055] FIG. 13 is an image of a hollow cylinder or pipe with a
double (concave and convex) rolling bar, wherein the concave
rolling bar is shown on the inside wall, and wherein the two
rolling bars move oppositely as shadows and light in the real
object would move.
[0056] FIGS. 14A through 14D are views of a curved image having a
rolling bar shown at four different viewing angles.
[0057] FIG. 15A is illustrates four components of the liberty bell
printed on a rectangular substrate. Inner part of the bell is
printed with the concave rolling bar and the outer part of the bell
is printed with the convex rolling bar.
[0058] FIG. 15B is a drawing of an image of the liberty bell at
normal angle.
[0059] FIG. 15C shows the bell when the substrate is tilted to the
right
[0060] FIG. 15D shows the bell when the substrate is tilted to the
left.
[0061] FIG. 16A is a perspective view of a magnet which makes up a
magnetic configuration shown in FIG. 16C for providing a dome
shaped magnetic field as shown in FIG. 16C.
[0062] FIG. 16B is a perspective view having some magnets cut-away
for ease of viewing for providing a dome-shaped field.
[0063] FIG. 16C is a perspective view of a magnetic arrangement for
providing dome-shaped magnetic field.
[0064] FIG. 16D is a perspective view of the magnetic arrangement
of FIG. 16C wherein sheet having flaked ink applied thereto is
disposed in the dome-shaped field and wherein the sheet and field
are relatively rotated indicated by the arrows in the subsequent
two figures.
[0065] FIG. 16E is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 16D,
wherein the sheet is disposed closer to the top of the dome-shaped
field and wherein a hemispherical image formed in the ink would be
smaller in size than in FIG. 16D.
[0066] FIGS. 16F and 16G are images of the rolling 3-D hemisphere
made using the magnets of FIG. 16E shown at different positions as
the image is tilted from one position to another.
[0067] FIG. 16H is a printed image of a hemisphere having dome
shaped flakes disposed in an image of a shield.
[0068] FIG. 16I is a printed image of a shield having a rolling bar
formed along an axis thereof.
[0069] FIG. 16J is a composite image of the images formed in FIG.
16H and 16I, wherein the ink and magnetic fields are applied in
stages so that FIG. 16I is applied over FIG. 16H and wherein the
centre region is coated only once, when forming the rolling
hemisphere.
[0070] FIG. 17A is a cross-section of a bowl shaped field used to
form the image of FIG. 17C.
[0071] FIG. 17B is cross-sectional of pigment flakes in a carrier
aligned in the magnetic field shown in FIG. 17A.
[0072] FIG. 17C is an image formed with magnetic flakes in the
field shown in FIG. 17A of an inverted hemisphere which appears to
be a rolling bowl sunken into the page.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
I. Introduction
[0073] The present invention in its various embodiments provides
methods of orientation of magnetic flakes of optically variable ink
or paint suitable in some embodiments as a high-speed printing
process wherein other embodiments are more suited to a manual
alignment and printing process. In addition, some embodiments of
this invention require a multi-step printing process wherein a
first region of a substrate is inked with magnetic flakes and
exposed to a magnetic field, and wherein after curing, the same
substrate is inked in a same or different region and exposed to a
second magnetic field. Normally, particles of an optically variable
pigment dispersed in a liquid paint or ink vehicle generally orient
themselves parallel to the surface when printed or painted on to a
surface. Orientation parallel to the surface provides high
reflectance of incident light from the coated surface. Magnetic
flakes can be tilted while in the liquid medium by applying a
magnetic field. The flakes generally align in such way that the
longest diagonal of a flake follows a magnetic field line.
Depending on the position and strength of the magnet, the magnetic
field lines can penetrate the substrate at different angles,
tilting magnetic flakes to these angles. A tilted flake reflects
incident light differently than a flake parallel to the surface of
the printed substrate. Reflectance is and a hue can both be
different. Tilted flakes typically look darker and have a different
color than flakes parallel to the surface at a normal viewing
angle.
[0074] Orienting magnetic flakes in printed images poses several
problems. Many modern printing processes are high-speed relative to
the batch-type process that apply a magnet against a static
(non-moving) coated article and hold the magnet in position while
the paint or ink dries. In some printing presses, the paper
substrate is moving at speeds of 100-160 meters per minute. Sheets
of paper are stacked after one printing operation, and fed to
another. The inks used in such operations typically dry within
milliseconds. Convention processes are not suitable for such
applications.
[0075] It was discovered that one way to obtain enhanced optical
effects in the painted/printed image, is by orienting magnetic
flakes perpendicular to the direction of the moving substrate. In
other words, the painted or printed liquid paint or ink medium with
dispersed flakes on the substrate moves perpendicular to magnetic
lines of the field to cause re-orientation of the flakes. This type
of orientation can provide remarkable illusive optical effects in
the printed image.
[0076] One type of optical effect will be referred to as a
kinematic optical effect for purposes of discussion. An illusive
kinematic optical effect generally provides an illusion of motion
in the printed image as the image is tilted relative to the viewing
angle, assuming a stationary illumination source. Another illusive
optical effect provides virtual depth to a printed, two-dimensional
image. Some images may provide both motion and virtual depth. And
some images may provide the illusion or perception of motion in any
direction in an x-y plane. Another type of illusive optical effect
switched the appearance of a printed field, such as by alternating
between bright and dark colors as the image is tilted back and
forth. Another type of optical effect is created by creating an
image wherein a feature of the image appears to change size as the
image provides an illusion of motion. Providing a change in size of
an object such as a rolling bar as the bar appears to move,
provides a form of realistic animation.
II. Examples of Printed Illusive Images
[0077] FIG. 1A is a simplified cross sectional view shown in
published U.S. patent application 20040051297 published Mar. 18,
2004 of a printed image 29 that will be referred to as a
"rolling-bar", for purposes of discussion. The image formed of
pigment flakes surrounded by a carrier, such as an ink vehicle or a
paint vehicle has been aligned in a particular manner of provide
the rolling-bar effect. The flakes are shown in FIG. 2A as short
lines in the cross-sectional view. The flakes are magnetic flakes,
i.e. pigment flakes that can be aligned using a magnetic field.
They might or might not retain remnant magnetization. The figures
are not drawn to scale. A typical flake might be twenty microns
across and about one micron thick, hence the figures are merely
illustrative. The image is printed or painted on a substrate 29,
such as paper, plastic film, laminate, card stock, or other
surface. For convenience of discussion, the term "printed" will be
used to generally describe the application of pigments in a carrier
to a surface, which may include other techniques, including
techniques others might refer to as "painting".
[0078] Generally, flakes viewed normal to the plane of the flake
appear bright, while flakes viewed along the edge of the plane
appear dark.
[0079] The carrier is typically transparent, either clear or
tinted, and the flakes are typically fairly reflective. For
example, the carrier could be tinted green and the flakes could
include a metallic layer, such as a thin film of aluminum, gold,
nickel, platinum, or metal alloy, or be a metal flake, such as a
nickel or alloy flake. The light reflected off a metal layer
through the green-tinted carrier might appear bright green, while
another portion with flakes viewed on end might appear dark green
or other color. If the flakes are merely metallic flakes in a clear
carrier, then one portion of the image might appear bright
metallic, while another appears dark. Alternatively, the metallic
flakes might be coated with a tinted layer, or the flakes might
include an optical interference structure, such as an
absorber-spacer-reflector Fabry-Perot type structure. Furthermore,
a diffractive structure may be formed on the reflective surface for
providing an enhancement and an additional security feature. The
diffractive structure may have a simple linear grating formed in
the reflective surface, or may have a more complex predetermined
pattern that can only be discerned when magnified but having an
overall effect when viewing. By providing diffractive reflective
layer, a colour change or brightness change is seen by a viewer by
simply turning the sheet, banknote, or structure having the
diffractive flakes.
[0080] The process of fabricating diffractive flakes is described
in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,830. U.S. patent application
20030190473, describes fabricating chromatic diffractive flakes.
Producing a magnetic diffractive flake is similar to producing a
diffractive flake, however one of the layers is required to be
magnetic. In fact, the magnetic layer can be disguised by way of
being sandwiched between A1 layers; in this manner the magnetic
layer and then it doesn't substantially affect the optical design
of the flake; or could simultaneously play an optically active role
as absorber, dielectric or reflector in a thin film interference
optical design.
[0081] FIG. 2A is a simplified cross section as shown in published
U.S. patent application 20040051297 published Mar. 18, 2004, of a
printed image 42 of a kinematic optical "rolling bar". The image
includes pigment flakes 26 surrounded by a transparent carrier 28
printed on a substrate 29. The pigment flakes are aligned in a
curving fashion. As with the flip-flop, the region(s) of the
rolling bar that reflect light off the faces of the pigment flakes
to the viewer appear lighter than areas that do not directly
reflect the light to the viewer. This image provides a light
band(s) or bar(s) that appear to move ("roll") across the image
when the image is tilted with respect to the viewing angle
(assuming a fixed illumination source(s)).
[0082] FIG. 2B is a simplified plan view of the rolling bar image
42 at a first selected viewing angle. A bright bar 44 appears in a
first position in the image between two contrasting fields 46, 48.
FIG. 2C is a simplified plan view of the rolling bar image at a
second selected viewing angle. The bright bar 44, appears to have
"moved" to a second position in the image, and the sizes of the
contrasting fields 46', 48' have changed. The alignment of the
pigment flakes creates the illusion of a bar "rolling" down the
image as the image is tilted (at a fixed viewing angle and fixed
illumination). Tilting the image in the other direction makes the
bar appear to roll in the opposite direction (up).
[0083] The bar may also appear to have depth, even though it is
printed in a plane. The virtual depth can appear to be much greater
than the physical thickness of the printed image. The tilting of
the flakes in a selected pattern reflects light to provide the
illusion of depth or "3D", as it is commonly referred to. A
three-dimensional effect can be obtained by placing a shaped magnet
behind the paper or other substrate with magnetic pigment flakes
printed on the substrate in a fluid carrier. The flakes align along
magnetic field lines and create the 3D image after setting (e.g.
drying or curing) the carrier. The image often appears to move as
it is tilted, hence kinematic 3D images may be formed.
[0084] Although the single rectangular rolling bar as disclosed in
U.S. patent application 20040051297 is an interesting eye catching
effect, the provision of a moving rectangle upon a larger
rectangular background appears to be somewhat limited in its
application.
[0085] FIG. 3A is a simplified cross section for forming a
semi-circular orientation of flakes in paint or ink for a rolling
bar type image. A thin permanent magnet 106 is magnetized through
its thin section, as illustrated. The magnet has circular magnetic
lines 108 on its ends. The substrate 29 with the printed magnetic
flakes dispersed in a fluid carrier moves along the magnet from the
viewer into the paper. The flakes 26 tilt along direction of the
magnetic lines 108 and form a semi-circle pattern above the
magnet.
[0086] FIG. 3B is a simplified perspective view of an apparatus in
accordance with FIG. 7A. The substrate 29 moves across the magnet
106 in the direction of the arrow. The image 110 forms a rolling
bar feature 114, which will appear to move up and down as the image
is tilted or the viewing angle is changed. The flakes 26 are shown
as being tilted in relation to the magnetic field lines. The image
is typically very thin, and the flakes might not form a hump, as
illustrated, but generally align along the magnetic field lines to
provide the desired arched reflective properties to create a
rolling bar effect. The bar appeared to roll up and down the image
when tilted through an angle of about 25 degrees in one
example.
[0087] It was found that the intensity of the rolling bar effect
could be enhanced by chamfering 116 the trailing edge 118 of the
magnet. It is believed that this gradually reduces the magnetic
field as the image clears the magnet. Otherwise, the magnetic
transition occurring at a sharp corner of the magnet might
re-arrange the orientation of the flakes and degrade the visual
effect of the rolling bar. In a particular embodiment, the corner
of the magnet was chamfered at an angle of thirty degrees from the
plane of the substrate. An alternative approach is to fix the
flakes before they pass over the trailing edge of the magnet. This
could be done by providing a UV source part way down the run of the
magnet, for UV-curing carrier, or a drying source for evaporative
carriers, for example.
[0088] Referring now to FIG. 5A, an image in the form of a 4 sided
outline or closed region is shown wherein the top side is curved
downward. It is interesting to note that upon looking at this
figure, there is no particular association with an image made and
it is not recognizable as a common object; it is merely a 2-D
polygon. On the other hand, upon viewing, FIG. 5B having the same
outline and the same flakes but oriented differently an association
with a known common recognizable object, a cylinder is made. By
providing a large rolling bar that spans the region the rolling bar
adds shading so that the user perceives depth and
three-dimensionality. In addition to this by tilting the image in
FIG. 5B, comprised of magnetically oriented pigment flakes, the
rolling bar appears to move across the image and its area changes
as it sweeps the cylinder. FIG. 4B doesn't conjure the same
association; and as the bar appears to move in FIG. 4B, it's
dimensions do not change. This change in area of the rolling bar,
experienced when viewing FIG. 5B significantly adds to making the
object appear more real, as the bar shrinks and then appears to
expand in height. It fills a smaller region and subsequently fills
a larger region as it appears to move from the centre towards the
sides. Furthermore, if one compares FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rolling
bar within the curved upper region of FIG. 5B seems to force the
viewer to at least partially experience the presence of a white lid
or interior of the cylinder. This does not occur when viewing FIG.
4A, 4B, or 5A. Thus there are several advantages to filling a
curved polygon with a rolling bar. FIGS. 6 and 7 show rolling bars
in two other shapes wherein the rolling bar provides a perception
of depth, movement, and wherein the actual area of the bar varies
as it sweeps the image.
[0089] Referring now to FIG. 12, a shield is shown, comprising an
outline having magnetically oriented pigment flakes disposed
therein, oriented in the form of a rolling bar having a large
radius of curvature. It is important to select a radius of
curvature that will provide an expected sense of depth and
curvature to most closely represent the image that is created. In
all of the curved images described heretofore, the presence of a
rolling bar provides a perceived change in area of the rolling bar
as the image is tilted and the bar appears to move across the
image. This phenomenon is quite striking and is illustrated by the
sequence of FIGS. 14A through 14D. These figures are of the same
image tilted at different angles, with an increasing angle in each
subsequent figure with FIG. 14A being at normal incidence. In
comparison with the simpler rolling bar of FIG. 4B, wherein the bar
simply appears to move from one location to the next, there is no
reference to there being a change in the appearance of the bar
itself at different locations. The bar in FIG. 4b in one location
or another as it appears to move, presents the same way. However,
the bar in FIGS. 14A and 14b has a completely different shape; and,
as the image is tilted the shape of the rolling bar continuously
changes, by definition and synergy of what appears to be movement
of the bar, combined with morphing of the bar combined with the bar
rising and falling adds greatly to the attractiveness of the image.
An image with these features can be used as a security feature on
an article, as decoration, or as a means of providing the illusion
of complex motion for use in the visual arts.
[0090] Although the changing shape of the rolling bar shown in
FIGS. 5B, 6, 7, 10, 12 and 13 is less pronounced, it is still
present and provides the illusion of the bar moving laterally and
upward or downward, since the bar follows a smooth curve.
[0091] Referring now to FIG. 6, a circle is shown having a rolling
bar spanning its diameter. The circle in the absence of the rolling
bar is merely what the viewer perceives as a circle, however the
presence of the rolling bar provides the viewer with the illusion
that the object is a sphere. Although movement is not shown in the
figure, the viewer witnessing the bar rolling along the circle
apparently becoming smaller as the image is tilted and the bar
moves toward the left, give the viewer a sense of three
dimensionality and realism. As opposed to looking at a painting
where light and shadows and highlights are fixed, this kinematical
image provides the viewer with the experience of the light and
shadows moving across the ball as the image is tilted. The view has
the perception of moving around the object or the viewed object
being rotated. Furthermore, since the area of the bar decreases as
it moves to the left the viewer has the perception that this object
is more than just a picture or photograph. It is for all intents
and purposes a flat image however the viewer perceives depth and
movement and an enhanced viewing experience in contrast to viewing
a "normal" image. It has three dimensionality, movement and change
of shape that occurs when viewing and tilting the object.
[0092] In FIG. 7 the area of the rolling bar shown by highlights in
the centre fading off to dark regions toward the sides, as it
appears to sweep across the image has a substantially uniform area,
however, the bar appears to follow the curved trajectory of the
upper and lower walls as it fills the outline and appears to
project out of the page, moving from a lower central position to an
upper right most or left most position as it rises. Here the viewer
experiences sideways and upward motion of the bar, as well as a 3-D
effect.
[0093] Referring now to FIG. 8A an alternative embodiment of the
invention is shown wherein two rolling bars are designed to move
oppositely simultaneously when the image is tiled in one direction;
for example toward the right pointing arrow, about a longitudinal
axis of one of the rolling bars.
[0094] In an embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 8B
and 8C an image with a "double rolling bar" is shown, wherein one
portion 44' has magnetic flakes oriented in convex fashion while
another portion 44'' of the image has magnetic flakes oriented in a
concave orientation. To achieve this convex orientation, the
"rolling bar" magnet is placed underneath the paper substrate. For
the concave orientation, the magnet is placed above the paper
substrate. A "Double tilt" image is formed when magnetic flakes in
two regions of the image have differing and opposing orientation,
for example, +30 degrees and -30 degrees. At one tilted position of
the printed image one part of the image is dark and another part is
light. When printed image is tilted in an opposing direction, the
areas switch their light and dark regions so that the first image
becomes light and the second image becomes dark. Depending upon the
intended design, this switch of the light and dark may occur from
the top to the bottom and back, as well as from the left to the
right and back, in dependence upon the on orientation of the
flakes. In FIGS. 8C and 8D the bright bar 44' appears to have
"moved" to a second position in the image, and the sizes of the
contrasting fields 46', 48' have changed; furthermore the bright
bar 44'' appears to have "moved" to a different position in the
image, and the sizes of the contrasting fields 46'', 48'' have
changed.
[0095] An embodiment of the invention in accordance with FIGS. 15A
through 15D will now be described. In FIGS. 15B through 15D, the
"liberty bell" is shown. In FIG. 15A the image is shown at a normal
angle of incidence. In FIGS. 15B through 15D, the same print is
shown tiled at different angles of incidence as indicated by arrows
about the axis. As can be observed, the rolling bar 150 shown if
FIG. 15B, having a large radius of curvature appears to shift to
the left when viewing FIG. 15C, and the smaller concave inverted
rolling bar 152 on the inside surface of the bell, appears to move
oppositely, to the left. FIG. 15D illustrates an opposite perceived
movement, wherein the larger bar 150 when tilted oppositely shows
the large bar 150 appearing to shift to the right while the smaller
bar 152 simultaneously appears to roll to the left. This behavior
of the light incident upon the image, mimics a real lighting
situation on a real object such as the liberty bell. The lighting
shifts simultaneously and oppositely in different regions as one
would expect from a real object. Thus the illusion is designed to
follow the physics of natural light on the real object. The
illusion is that the image is real. Turning now to FIG. 15A, the
four elements 154a, 154b, 154c, and 154d, that comprise the bell
are shown separately, for ease of understanding, and each of these
is printed, one at a time, in the correct location upon the
substrate to form the image shown in FIG. 15A. Although the image
is formed by printing each region and applying the magnets to form
flakes aligned in oppositely arching patterns to create the two
rolling bars, a sequenced automated printed process could be used
to produce this and similar images.
[0096] An interesting and striking effect is shown in an
alternative embodiment of this invention in FIGS. 16F, 16G, 16H and
16J. FIG. 16F is a printed image of a hemisphere wherein the entire
image is coated with alignable pigment flakes. After alignment of
flakes as will be explained, the hemisphere is formed. The printed
image of the hemisphere shown in FIG. 16F appears as the image
shown in FIG. 16G as the substrate is tilted or the light source
varied. As the image is tilted from the normal to the left about a
vertical axis through the centre, the bright hemisphere which
appears much like a ball, rolls with a change of tilt angle. In
contrast to the rolling bar, which was capable of rolling in a
plane along a line, the hemisphere in FIG. 16F is capable or
appearing to move in any x-y direction, depending upon the angle of
tilt. Thus, tilting the image about the x or y axis results in the
appearance of movement.
[0097] The shield in FIG. 16J uses a combination of a rolling bar
and hemisphere effects to provide very interesting combination of
effects wherein the shield and hemisphere appear to project out of
the page. This is produced in a two stage process, wherein the
substrate is first coated with a magnetic coating and a hemisphere
is formed and cured as in FIG. 16H. A second coating is applied
through a mask or stencil to form the coating of FIG. 16I ensuring
that no additional coating material covers the hemisphere. This
second coating is placed in a magnetic field so as to produce a
rolling bar. The method of forming the dynamic or kinematic
hemispherical image described above is more complex than the method
of forming the rolling bar. With reference to FIGS. 16A through
16E, the method will now be described. By way of example, the
magnet 160a shown in FIG. 16A illustrates a field line above and
below the magnet, forming two loops. This diagram purposely only
shows these two lines, however, there is essentially a front of
lines that would be generated parallel to these lines, spanning the
entire magnet. The magnets 160a, 160b used to create the hemisphere
are more complex as is shown in FIG. 16B and more particularly in
16C. Part of the magnet in FIG. 16B is cut away to illustrate some
of the field lines. In FIG. 16C it is clear that the field
extending above the cluster of magnets 160a, 160b, 160c is dome
shaped, as is the magnetic field extending below. A print of a
hemispherical kinematic image is formed as in FIG. 16D or 16E by
disposing the coated substrate 167 with fluid ink in the dome
shaped magnetic field, just above the magnets as shown in FIG. 16D
or with greater separation from the magnets and supported toward
the middle of the field while the magnets are spinning. In this
exemplary embodiment the velocity at which the magnets or image are
relatively rotated is approximately 120 rpm. The image is then
removed from the region of the field and is cured. The rotation
velocity of the magnets can be slower or faster than 120 rpm,
depending on the particles magnetic properties and viscosity of the
ink vehicle. If the velocity is too slow however, the quality of
the image will degrade.
[0098] FIG. 17A is an illustration of an alternative embodiment
similar but inverted to the image shown in FIG. 16F. A simulated
magnetic field from a hemispherical magnet is shown in FIG. 17A.
This is the shape of the field that created the image shown in FIG.
17C. The North pole of the magnet is on the top and the particles
are aligned concentrically in a funnel-like fashion. The field 194
in FIG. 17B is shown and flakes 193 in a carrier 192 disposed upon
substrate 191 are aligned in a funnel like orientation following
the field lines. Opposite to the hemispherical effect, this field
generated a bright kinematic spot 192 in the middle of the image
191; and the funnel-like alignment of flakes generated a dark
kinematic spot in the middle of the image. Although the fields
shown and described are formed from permanent magnets, electric
fields or electromagnetic fields can be used in many embodiments.
Of course, the field and the particles must be compatible so that
the particles are capable of being oriented by the particular
field.
[0099] While the invention has been described above in reference to
particular embodiments and the best mode of practicing the
invention, various modifications and substitutions may become
apparent to those of skill in the art without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is understood that
the foregoing descriptions are merely exemplary, and that the
invention is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *